Daily Encouragement

10th April 2013

Nichiren's words are guiding principles that have universal, eternal relevance. It is important to study his writings. And it is especially crucial that the members of the youth division gain a solid grounding in Buddhist study. The two ways of practice and study are important. A halfhearted attitude will not allow you to complete these two paths. That would be a truly sad thing.

Taken from:http://www.sgi.org/sgi-president/daily-encouragement.html

Daily Guidance

10th April 2013

Wednesday

BECAUSE people are wise, they are maligned. Because people are just and upright, they are defamed. You may also encounter slander and abuse because of your faith in Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism, but never let this shock or intimidate you.

OPPOSING good is called evil; opposing evil is called good. Therefore, outside of the heart there is neither good nor evil. Good and evil in themselves have no substance. In other words, they are in themselves not absolute, but reflect relative distinctions. It is important, therefore, to ceaselessly direct one’s heart, and take action, towards good.

TRULY admirable is the person who wants to train and educate his/her juniors so that they can surpass him/her. Such a person is a true asset. Those who willingly help their juniors develop and become great individuals, while smilingly supporting and watching their growth, are leaders among leaders.

DAY after day, a new sun rises on the lives of those who uphold the Mystic Law. A vigourous and rich life force wells up in them. They feel younger year by year, and their lives are filled with good fortune even in their last years. We can see, then, that Buddhism shows us the way to solve various problems which we confront as our society ages.

IRRESPECTIVE of your level of erudition, the brilliance of your academic career or height of your social status, you should learn about matters of faith from someone who has truly deep faith. Trying to understand faith based on your own views is extremely risky.

Taken from:http://dailyguidance.blogspot.com/ 
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Daily Encouragement

9th April 2013

Nothing is wasted in faith. One never loses out. Please be confident that all your efforts to help others and promote Buddhism are accumulating immense treasures of good fortune in your life. This is what is meant by inconspicuous benefit.

Taken from:http://www.sgi.org/sgi-president/daily-encouragement.html

Daily Guidance

9th April 2013

Tuesday

THE invocation of daimoku is the driving force to enliven and revitalise one's life, constantly spurring it on. Daimoku will turn suffering into a spring-board for growth and progress.

STUDY is a kind of contest. In a contest, whether it is in the arts, in sports or in work, you are bound to be defeated if you lose the will, the energy, that drives you on to the finish line. You must never allow yourself to be held back by the past, never forget to always press forward, starting here, starting now, starting today.

BUDDHISM is winning, and then winning again. When you win you must be sure not to create a cause for future defeat. For it is precisely when you win that you must create a cause that will lead yet to another victory.

WE must not be cowardly. Time and again, Nichiren Daishonin admonished his followers, "Nichiren's disciples cannot accomplish anything if they are cowardly." (WND, p 481) A cowardly person cannot realise victory in life. Unless we have the courage to really dedicate our lives to kosen-rufu, we cannot construct true happiness for ourselves and others.

IT is important to live with tenacity, right to the very end, to boldly write your own history in your own unique way. There is no need for you to be resentful or jealous of others. We possess the Gohonzon, unsurpassed in the world. And we are able to freely tap the infinite treasures that exist within our lives.


Taken from:http://dailyguidance.blogspot.com
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Daily Guidance

8th April 2013

Monday

IT is important to live true to yourself. If you become strong, then no matter how trying your present situation may be, you will not be daunted by it. Even if you are struggling financially now, as long as you continue making efforts based on faith, you will eventually find that you have the money you need. Even the most painful and difficult situations will, when viewed from the distance of time, seem like the events of a dream.


THOSE who have let power and popularity gone into their heads lead empty, vacuous lives. Fancy titles and accolades are ephemeral. But the names of those who strive earnestly for the people's happiness and welfare, undeterred by criticism and personal attacks, shine ever more brightly as the years go by.


IT is those who make the mentor's heart their own and put that into practice in reality that are truly great. Wherever you may be, whatever your position, as long as you realise this truth you will be able to conduct yourself admirably as a disciple.


WHAT is important is that you will not be defeated by the inner tendency to despair over your circumstances. Just as not to suffer misfortunes is to be fortunate, not to be defeated is to win. No matter what happens, you must absolutely not allow yourself to be defeated. That is what faith means.


IN faith, one must not be swayed by cowardice. Those who are shaken from the correct path of belief by the eight winds of worldly glories and sufferings and abandon faith can in no way be called followers of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth.

Taken from:http://dailyguidance.blogspot.com/ 
Pic from:worldreligions-buddhism.wikispaces.com

Daily Guidance

7th April 2013

Sunday

ABOVE all, if you are a follower of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, you must have a firm resolve in faith. You must fortify your heart with the armour of forbearance to endure the onslaught of difficulties which we are bound to face.

KOSEN-RUFU will advance to the extent that you talk about the Law and share it with others. How can one speak about the Mystic Law in a way that captures and penetrate the hearts of others? It is not figures of speech that touch the other person's heart, but one's sincere cry of belief.

WE must put our heart in rhythm with one another and have a profound sense of responsibility for our mission; we must pray, contemplate what must be done, and then act. If our hearts are distanced from one another, we can achieve nothing.

IN the Gosho we find the passage, "If you light a lantern for another, it will also brighten your own way." In an aging society, the spirit of lighting a lantern for others is very important. In the end, it means brightening your own way as well.

THERE is no need to lament when criticised for doing good. This is even truer with regards to our efforts to introduce Buddhism to others, an act of the highest good. Nichiren Daishonin also said that we should rejoice when we encounter obstacles. This is the SGI spirit.

Taken from:http://dailyguidance.blogspot.com\
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Daily Guidance

6th April 2013

Saturday

IF everything is smooth sailing right from the beginning, we cannot become people of substance and character. By surmounting painful setbacks and obstacles, we can create a brilliant history of triumph that will shine forever. That is what makes life so exciting and enjoyable. In any field of endeavour, those who overcome hardships and grow as human beings are advancing towards success and victory in life.

A person of few words is likely to have far more substance and depth than someone who talks just for the sake of hearing their own voice! Someone who takes action swiftly and effectively is a great deal more trustworthy than someone who is all talk. Of far greater importance than whether one is quiet or talkative is whether or not one possesses rich inner substance.

EVEN though we embrace faith in the Gohonzon, things are not suddenly going to improve without any effort on our part. When we break through our deadlocks with daimoku, when we encounter yet another seemingly insurmountable wall and conquer it with faith - each time elevating our inner state of mind a little further as we do so - we will steadily but surely grow into "great trees" of truth and wisdom.

ELOQUENCE basically means power of persuasion. Verbosity is not the same as eloquence. It is often said that salespersons who speak awkwardly get better results than those who are fast talkers. Being persuasive does not come from smooth talking but it is a matter of the overall degree of trust others place in you. If you cannot gain the person's trust, you will not be truly persuasive or eloquent.

YOUTH should never be swept away by superficial fame or materialistic greed. Youth should not have the mind of an old man who cunningly manages to pass hard work on to others and seeks only personal gain. Justice, courage and passion constitute the lifeblood and privilege of youth.

Taken from:http://dailyguidance.blogspot.com/ 
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